The growth in unit sales is primarily driven by the increase in the mechanical thrombectomy market. Innovation in the treatment of ischemic stroke with new technology like stent retrievers and flow diverting stents, which require guidewires as well, will drive an increase in the number of guidewires required as well. Approximately 1.3 to 1.4 guidewires are used for each coiling procedure. There may be a decrease in coiling procedures over the forecast period as flow diverters and other new technologies cannibalize market share but since guidewires will be used with all of these new technologies as well it should not limit the market. Since the mechanical thrombectomy market is experience high growth there should be high single unit digit growth in the guidewire market over the forecast period.

Germany is the most penetrated market in terms of mechanical thrombectomy in Europe so a higher rate of market growth will likely be seen there. Germany is also the largest market for stent placement and detachable coil procedures so the growth in these markets will also drive the guidewire market in Germany.

There has been an increase in the number of procedures as well as more complicated procedures being performed; as a result, the number of guidewires used per procedure has increased, driving the unit sales. Guidewires have enhanced distal navigation and trackability properties that have allowed for the guidewire of choice to be used in various complex neurological procedures. Some more complex procedures require closer to 1.7 to 1.8 guidewires per procedure. There is also some conversion to more advanced and high torque wires, which command a higher ASP.

Neurovascular guidewires are used in conjunction with microcatheters, which are used to place coils or stents at intracranial locations to treat conditions such as aneurysms and cerebral arteriovenous malformations. They are now also being used for mechanical thrombectomy and for the placement of new technology for aneurysm embolization.